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Noko Matlou

Noko Matlou
Personal information
Full name Noko Alice Matlou[1]
Date of birth (1985-09-30) 30 September 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Moletjie, South Africa
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker, defender
Team information
Current team
CP Cacereño Femenino
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Development Ladies
Brazilian Ladies
University of Johannesburg
Ma-Indies Ladies
2021–2024 Eibar 40 (0)
2024- CP Cacereño Femenino
International career
2006– South Africa 168 (66)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 July 2023 (prior the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup)

Noko Alice Matlou (born 30 September 1985) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Spanish Primera Federación side CP Cacereño Femenino. She has played for the South Africa women's national team both as a striker and a defender.

In 2008, Matlou became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year.

Club career

At a club level, she played for Ma-Indies Ladies. She has previously played for Development Ladies, Brazilian Ladies and the University of Johannesburg. Within footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Beep-Beep".[2]

In 2008, she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.[3]

CP Cacereño Femenino

In August 2024, she signed a 1-year contract with Primera Federación side CP Cacereño Femenino.[4]

International career

Matlou made her debut for South Africa women's national football team ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006.[5] In September 2009, Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa's match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.[6]

Matlou came to prominence within the national team by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship.[5] She has been selected for the squads for a variety of tournaments, including at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[2] In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a striker, as a defender.[7]

Honours

South Africa

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Athlete Information". Universiade 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Noko Alice "Beep-Beep" Matlou". Sasol in Sport. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Noko Matlou makes history". KickOff. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Banyana Banyana defender Noko Matlou finds a new home in Spain | soccer". SABC. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b Taele, Keabetswe (8 December 2008). "Banyana do SA proud". Independent Online (South Africa).
  6. ^ "Banyana dispute gender cheating claims". Sport24. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ^ Moholoa, Ramatsiyi (10 July 2014). "Matlou adapts to Banyana role in defence". The Sowetan. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Magaia brace hands South Africa first TotalEnergies WAFCON trophy". CAF. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.